Charli Carpenter is nationally and internationally known for her work in and on human security, particularly the protection of civilians, war-affected children, gender, humanitarian disarmament. Formerly associated with the Ford Institute of Human Security at the University of Pittsburgh, she joined UMass Amherst in 2008 and now leads the Conflict, Violence and Security working group in the Department of Political Science. She has a track record of prolific research in top journals, major grants and public intellectualism. She has published three books and consulted for the United Nations, State Department, Department of Defense, Human Rights Watch and other human security NGOs. Dr. Carpenter is skilled at converting academic research into policy reports disseminated to stakeholders, increasing UMass’ visibility and translating research into policy impact. She is visible on Twitter and writes often for the foreign policy press and major newspapers. Her research has influenced the United Nations’ gender mainstreaming architecture, changed the way that child protection in armed conflicts is understood by humanitarian organizations, and influenced the advocacy strategies used by humanitarian disarmament NGOs.

Kevin Young works in the Department of Economics and is a scholar of International Political Economy (IPE) whose work has spanned several disciplines. He teaches classes on globalization, inequality and business advocacy. He is the author (with Thomas Hale and David Held) of Gridlock: Why Global Cooperation is Failing When We Need it Most (Polity Press, 2013) and works on the political economy of financial market regulation, elite networks and transnational governance. He has presented his research at the United Nations, and his work has been utilized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the US Government Accountability Office (GAO). His recent scholarship focuses on transnational networks of professionals, especially in the international domain, with previous support from the Russell Sage Foundation (RSF) and pending applications with the National Science Foundation (NSF). Young is currently involved in an international grant project (funded by the Velux Foundation) on relating the study of transnational networks of professionals to the concept of niche construction in evolutionary biology. Currently a main thrust of his research is to analyze dynamics of global inequality among organizational leaders around the world through the use of network analysis.

Bernhard Leidner from the Psychology of Peace and Violence Program in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences was a social and political psychologist nationally and internationally known for his research on intergroup violence, international conflict (reduction), and justice, primarily in the context of large social categories such as nations and ethnic groups. His work, often conducted from a global lens in multiple world regions and countries, and making heavy use of online surveys and experiments, has been published in top-tier outlets in psychology in general and social psychology in particular, as well as in more multidisciplinary journals in the area of conflict studies. Dr. Leidner received multiple grants from the NSF, as well as grants from private foundations (e.g. Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation). As an APS Rising Star and Fellow of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology, both his publication and his grant funding record have been recognized nationally and internationally. Dr. Leidner was interested in the psychophysiological underpinnings of intergroup violence and collective trauma (e.g., the Holocaust), making use of impedance cardiography (ECG). Additionally, funded by a recent NSF grant, he has conducted cross-cultural comparisons of people’s compliance with and reactions to government responses to COVID-19. Dr. Leidner’s international reputation has led to him being sought out as expert consultant by international NGOs such as The Hague Institute of Global Justice.

Geraldine Santoso is a doctoral researcher associated with Human Security Lab and leads the Lab's project on Climate Refugees. She is a PhD student in International Relations and Legal Studies, with research interests in climate security, human security, migration policy, indigenous human rights, and legacies of colonialism. Geraldine holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Skidmore College.

Jenna Norosky is a Doctoral Research Fellow at Human Security Lab and a PhD student in International Relations with research interests in political violence, human security, and international war law. They are particularly interested in sexual violence against men in civil wars in Syria, Afghanistan, Bosnia and the Congo. ? Jenna holds a B.A. in Political Science from Reed College.

Jaeye Baek is a Doctoral Affiliate at Human Security Lab and a third-year doctoral student in Political Science and Legal Studies at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Her scholarship focuses on the politics of war crimes tribunals on wartime sexual and gender-based crimes. She holds a Masters degree in Sociology.

Kristina Becvar serves as Project Manager on the Lab’s Afghanistan and Ukraine projects. She is a graduate student pursuing a M.S. degree in Data Analytics and Computation for Social Sciences at UMass Amherst with interests at the intersection of domestic and international security, human rights, strengthening democracy, and the public-private military dynamic. Kristin holds a B.A. in Business Studies from UMass Amherst.

Joseph Tyler Lovell is a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst specializing in International Relations, with research interests focus on military technology, doctrine, procurement, and institutional culture. He has been published in Foxtrot Alpha, Foreign Policy, and the National Interest. He holds an MA from the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School for Diplomacy and International Commerce.

Heather Kumove is a PhD student in the Psychology of Peace and Violence Program and doctoral research affiliate with Human Security Lab. Her research interests centers on emotion, moral judgment, and factors that mitigate the harmful effects of violent intergroup conflict. Heather holds a BA honors in Psychology with a minor in Government from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzilya, Israel.

Camryn Hughes is an Assistant Project Manager on the Afghan Voices Project at Human Security Lab while completing her BA in Political Science, with research interests in humanitarian affairs, gender and foreign policy, and political economy.

Ryan is a senior majoring in political science and history with research interests in international organizations, constructivist theory, development of norms and international law, and humanitarian disarmament.

Sarah Lee is completing a BA in Political Science and Economics with research interests in political geography, international public law, international political economy, education, inequality, refugee politics and climate change.

Ben is a senior majoring in Political Science and Spanish. His research interests include Transitional Justice, Politics of Memory and Language, International Relations and Law, as well as quantitative social sciences. He is currently assisting with the topic of civilian protection in Ukraine.

Ruya is a senior majoring in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies with a minor in Anthropology. Her research interests include post-colonial studies, political theory, and gender/sexuality in the SWANA region. She is currently assisting in the Afghan voices project.y, and a certificate in International Relations at the University of Massachusetts. She serves as a research assistant on the Afghan Voices project.

Lynette Lavigne is a senior majoring in Political Science and Biology, with research interests in international security, civilian protections and healthcare.

Sari is a senior on the exchange program from Japan, majoring in Sociology and Gender Studies. Her research interests and advocacy interests include nuclear abolition, gender and masculinity.

Gabi is a senior majoring in International Relations with a minor in Mandarin Chinese and Psychology. Her research interests include international law and security, cybersecurity, climate change and China-US relations.

Lily Lavier is a junior majoring in political science with minors in economics and gender studies. Her research interests include international relations, human rights, gender inequality and international law.

Nara Sritharan is a former Research Associate with Human Security Lab. She earned a Ph.D. Candidate in Economics at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst and now holds a Post-Doc at AidData Initiative at the College of William and Mary’s Global Research Institute. Her research focuses on the political economy of peace and conflict, in particular peacebuilding and ethnic reconciliation in conflict/post-conflict countries. During her time at Human Security Lab she assisted on a project on post-withdrawal Afghanistan.

Alexandria Nylen is a former Project Manager at Human Security Lab who completed her PhD in the Department of Political Science and is now Research Associate at the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarianism at Brown University. She is trained in international relations, specializing in the area of international security. Her research examines the legal and normative implications of remote warfare, such as the use of armed drones in counterterrorism operations, as well as civil society’s response to post-9/11 national security policies. During her time at Human Security Lab she assisted with the Humanitarian Disarmament Initiative and projects on the nuclear taboo.

Rahmat Balloch held a Visiting Fellowship in at Human Security Lab and is currently a PhD candidate in the department of International Relations at Quaid -I- Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan. His areas of research are conflict resolution, conflict transformation and peacebuilding, with a particular focus on conflict transformation in Balochistan, Pakistan. He is currently working on research to develop a transformational justice dialogue process to be applied in areas of violent conflict.

Catie Fowler is a former Research Associate at Human Security Lab and doctoral student in International Relations, specializing in critical gender and critical race approaches to the Women, Peace and Security agenda, specifically policy initiatives intended to increase the number of women in armed conflict. During her time at Human Security Lab she assisted with projects on gender equality in Afghanistan and gender-based violence in Ukraine, and piloted new research on female combatants in armed conflict and civilian targeting.

Isha Mahajan is a former Project Manager at Human Security Lab. She holds a BA in Political Science and Journalism from UMass-Amherst and a Master of Science in Data Analytics and Computational Social Science. During her time at Human Security Lab she assisted with projects on nuclear disarmament and gender equality in Afghanistan. She now works for a marketing data analyst at Sciera.

Nathan Tran-Trinh completed an MS in Data Analytics and Computational Social Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During his time at Human Security Lab he collaborated on a working paper in the Humanitarian Disarmament initiative. His research interests include statistics and econometrics, data communication and visualization, experiments in media and politics, and survey research.

Helen Eshetu earned a BA in Communications and Political Science from UMass. While at Human Security Lab, she assisted on the Humanitarian Disarmament initiative.

Leoni Foster earned a BA in Political Science from UMass Amherst. While at Human Security Lab, she assisted with the Humanitarian Disarmament initiative.

Jacqueline Shortsleeve earned a BA at UMass Amherst in Journalism and Political Science. While at Human Security Lab she assisted with the Humanitarian Disarmament Initiative.

Jessica Mosheshvili graduated with a BA in Political Science, an International Relations certificate, and a double minor in History and Russian, East European, and Euroasian studies. While at Human Security Lab she worked on a USAID-funded project on gender programming in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Prestin LeBlanc graduated with a BA in Political Science at the UMass Amherst. Her academic interests include health inequality and gendered political violence. While at Human Security Lab she worked on a USAID-funded project on gender programming in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Liam Harney graduated with a BA and a double major in Legal Studies and Political Science. He is interested in international law, conflict resolution, and post-conflict restorative justice. While at Human Security Lab he worked on the Ukraine project.

Makara Le is a senior at UMass Amherst Commonwealth Honors College majoring in Economics and minoring in Information Technology and Business. During her assistantship at Human Security Lab she worked on protecting civilians in Ukraine.

Gregory Poelker-McKee majored in Sustainable Community Development and Economics at UMass Amherst and held an assistantship at Human Security Lab studying nuclear divestment advocacy campaigns.

William is a veteran of both the U.S. Marine Corps and political campaigns in Virginia, Maryland, New Hampshire, and nationally. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, as well as a Master's of Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and has served at Human Security Lab as a research assistant on project relating to humanitarian law.

Caroline Williams served as an Administrative and Research Assistant at Human Security Lab while pursuing a dual degree in political science and public health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her interest areas include foreign policy, international trade, and global health.

Hunter Fairchild is a senior Political Science major at the University of Massachusetts Amherst with academic interests in U.S. foreign policy, politics, and history. He worked with Human Security Lab on the Ukraine project, examining the protection of civilians.

Alexandra Protter is a junior pursuing a degree in psychology and political science. Her academic interests political psychology, how political thoughts and sentiments are formed, especially in regards to different forms of human security and vulnerable populations. She has served on the Afghan Voices project.

Jayden graduated '23 in Political Science and as a member of the Commonwealth Honors College with research interests around U.S. foreign policy, IR theory, and security studies. While at UMass, she worked at Human Security Lab as a research assistant on the Afghan Voices project. She will attend graduate school at University of Amsterdam in Fall '23.

Sarah Sirkissoon is a senior majoring in Political Science with minors in Economics, Psychology, and a certificate in International Relations at the University of Massachusetts. She serves as a research assistant on the Afghan Voices project.

Astrid Paz is completing her BA UMass Amherst in Political Science and Legal Studies and minoring in French with a certificate in International Relations. A native Honduran, her interests include international and national security. She is a research assistant on the Afghanistan and Ukraine projects.

Tegan Oliver is a senior majoring in Public Health Sciences and Political Science, with research interests in human rights, reproductive health access and national security, and women’s participation in elected office. She has served a research assistant on the Afghan Voices project.

Nicholas McCurrach was a Political Science and Economics with research interests in international security and authoritarianism. While at UMass he worked with Human Security Lab on the topic of civilian protection in Ukraine, researching the humanitarian impacts of the travel ban.

Imtashal Tariq earned an MA in political science at University of Massachusetts, Amherst with research interests in international relations and public law. Prior to UMass, Imtashal worked for UNODC and various NGOs in regions where sexual violence is used as a tactical tool of war. She is a member of the National Taskforce for Missing and Murdered Womxn and Girls of Color. Imtashal holds a MPhil in Criminological Research from the University of Cambridge.

Rahul Gundeti served as Outreach Coordinator at Human Security Lab while an MS student in Data Analytics at UMass Amherst with research interests in predictive analytics, securities forecasting, quantum networking and digital privacy. He is planning to do a PhD in Data Analytics.

Naa Oyoe Odjidja will earn her BA in Public Health on the Pre-Med track in 2024. Her research interests are Black Maternal Mortality and overcoming health inequities.